I READ with sadness but not surprise the plight of those poor abandoned kittens.  We are supposed to be a nation of animal lovers but we now live in a throwaway society, and sadly animals now form part of this throwaway culture. If it were not for Sara Ford and the people in Cats Protection – Helen Szuluk and Jan Borrett – to name a few, who tirelessly devote their lives to caring for, rehabilitating and finding 'forever homes' for these poor animals things would be much worse.

Nobody forces you to have an animal, it is your choice to do so. 

It seems that people decide on a whim without thought as to what this entails.  All they see is a fluffy kitten or a cute puppy and seem to totally ignore the fact that this animal can live many years and require, food, vet care, walks, grooming, kenneling, all of which costs money. 

It is a very big commitment and needs careful consideration and thought. All too often people take on animals only to find that it interferes with their life style.

Dog homes are over-run with abandoned dogs and cats as are horse and pony rescue shelters, but this does not stop people from breeding these animals. Why? For profit. 

You have those abhorrent establishments called 'puppy farms' that are purely a profit-making business and pay little regard to the welfare of the dogs. The dogs are money machines and at the end of their breeding life, probably at no more than five years old. When they fail to produce enough puppies to make them viable, they are thrown on the scrap heap, to be disposed of. 

There needs to be a clamp on commercial breeding to stop the needless destruction of animals.  Neutering of animals is also essential.

– Janet Wylde, Whitecroft.